God Did NOT Create Eve to Be a Helpmeet or Helper: The (Rarely Taught) Biblical Truth Around the Purpose of Women
The creation of Eve is one of the most foundational aspects when it comes to understanding our identity as women.
Yet unfortunately, the interpretation a lot of us have heard is not Biblically accurate. It's also usually tied to the Church's overall message that a woman's purpose is to serve.
In today's episode, I'm going to break down what the Bible really says about the creation of Eve - plus the origin of the notorious "helper"/"helpmeet" and how it's been skewed.
Show Notes:
Intro
Alright, friend. Like I said in the teaser, if this information is new to you, it may honestly blow your mind. And open your eyes in a really amazing and pivotal way. I know it certainly did for me.
And if what I’m about to share happens to be familiar to you … if you happen to come from a church with the right theological understanding of this … I encourage you to share that with other sisters. Because they may not have the benefit of the same environment or understanding of this truth.
I’m currently connecting with a local church plant that has the right view about women; the Biblical view. But in my previous churches, I heard the version that I think a lot of us have, unfortunately, heard. And as you’re about to see, there is a very stark difference between that version and the Biblical truth. It couldn’t be more opposite, actually.
So what version am I referring to, exactly?
So when we look at Genesis Chapter 2, starting with versus 18 it says:
18-20 God said, “It’s not good for the Man to be alone; I’ll make him a helper, a companion.” So God formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name. The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals; but he didn’t find a suitable companion.
21-22 God put the Man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. God then used the rib that he had taken from the Man to make Woman and presented her to the Man.
23-25 The Man said, “Finally! Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh! Name her Woman for she was made from Man.”
Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh. The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked, but they felt no shame.
So if we zero in on versus 18, again it says: “18-20 God said, “It’s not good for the Man to be alone; I’ll make him a helper, a companion.”
Now the way this has been presented to me in the past, two things happened:
One, there was an emphasis placed on the word “helper” that attached it to this essentially patriarchal idea that women are here to be subservient to men. Or at least, shouldn’t dare to rise above the specific roles that have been deemed acceptable for them to play.
And, two, in that same false spirit, often the creation of Eve is almost skimmed over. Kinda like, God created all of these amazing things - the sky, the earth, the plants, the animals, and Adam...and then, oh yeah, God created Eve to help Adam.
And so the message that’s been sent to women is basically that we’re here to serve - so sign-up for women’s ministry, sign-up for children’s ministry, sign-up for the food pantry, and oh yeah, also don’t forget to be the Proverbs 31 woman at home, too. Serve, serve, help, help, just run yourself ragged serving because that’s your purpose.
Now, here’s where things take a turn.
I forget where it was. But I remember several years ago, hearing somewhere that the original word that has been translated as “helper” or “helpmeet” … it’s the same word that is used elsewhere in the Bible to refer to God. Which means it carries a completely different meaning than what I’ve just described; and what a lot of us ladies have heard.
And then recently, a friend suggested that I read a book called Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul by John & Stasi Eldredge. This friend and I have very similar views about women, as Jesus-loving and Biblical ladies, which includes being empowered and confident and just all in for God.
So it sounded right up my alley - especially since I was in the midst of putting together Relate Escape and this podcast as God had called me to. So what better material to read, right? I figured it might confirm some things, provide some content ideas, etc.
So I started reading this book which I highly, highly recommend by the way. And in Chapter 2, they share this Biblical truth that blew my mind.
Remember when I said that the original word that gets translated as “helper” or “helpmeet” is more than it seems?
Here’s what John and Stasi have to say [start of quote]:
“When God creates Eve, He calls her ezer kenegdo. ‘It is not good for the man to be alone, I shall make him [an ezer kenegdo.]’
Hebrew scholar Robert Alter, who has spent years translating the book of Genesis, says that this phrase is ‘notoriously difficult to translate.’ The various attempts we have in English are “helper” or “companion” or the notorious “helpmeet.” Why are these translations so incredibly wimpy, boring, flat...disappointing? What is a helpmeet, anyway? What little girl dances through the house singing, “One day I shall be a helpmeet”? Companion? A dog can be a companion. Helper? Sounds like Hamburger Helper. Alter is getting close when he translates it “sustainer beside him.”
The word “ezer” is used only twenty other places in the entire Old Testament. And in every other instance the person being described is God Himself, when you need Him to come through for you desperately.
They go on to explain: “Most of the contexts are life and death, by the way, and God is your only hope. Your ezer. If he is not there beside you...you are dead. A better translation therefore of ezer would be “lifesaver.” Kenegdo means “alongside, or opposite to, a counterpart.” [end quote]
Now, if that doesn’t blow our minds enough, the other item John and Stasi point out is from Genesis 1:26-28.
“And God created the human in His image, in the image of God He created them, male and female He created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and conquer it, and hold sway over the fish of the sea and the fowl of the heavens and every beast that crawls upon the earth.”
Take note of the plural usage there. God said to them. Adam and Eve. God told both of them to fill and conquer the earth. God gave the world to Adam and Eve equally. God handed out the power and the invitation to adventure equally.
So when we add this to the more accurate Biblical translation of ezer kenegdo … Here's the truth ladies: God did not create you to tag along. You’re not an afterthought. God didn’t look at Adam and go, “Oh, you know what I just realized? Adam needs someone to pack his lunch, keep His house, and wait silently at home while he goes off and enjoys all the power and the adventure and the fun.”
No - God created you so Adam had human companionship. And also, to John and Stasi’s point, he needs someone to watch his back. This life is dangerous - especially post-fall in the Garden. The Enemy is prowling around like a lion. Work is hard. Life is just difficult...and Eve is meant to be Adam's “sustainer beside him.” In the sense that if Adam doesn’t have her, he could die. Not necessarily physically...but emotionally, spiritually, mentally.
It also means that wanting to have adventure in life, and with a man if we have one, is part of our God-given make-up. Adventure is not just for the guys. We are co-rulers and co-adventurers.
Ladies...you were not created to be a “helper” or “helpmeet” in the way that’s so often been communicated. You were created to play an irreplaceable role.
You were created to be different from Adam, yes. There are still differences between the sexes - simply because God created male and female to represent different aspects of God. In fact, the chapter I’ve referred to in “Captivating” goes on to speak about the special beauty and vulnerability that God placed in Eve … in all of us as women. (And I don’t mean super model, super thin, perfect makeup beauty, btw. )
But this idea that we’re subservient to men; or were created as afterthought; or that we need to stay in specific boxes; or that we exist merely to serve; or that we need a man to have meaning in our lives. That’s not from God.
In fact, in their book, John and Stasi go on to point out that after God created all of these amazing and glorious things...the stars, the sky, Adam, the animals...all of it. God wasn’t satisfied.
I mean, at this point, anyone would have looked at His masterpiece and been like, “This is fabulous! This is perfect!” But yet God was standing there and going, “Ehh...it’s pretty great, I admit. But something just isn’t right. All of these things that I’ve created, including Adam, are spot-on. But...something is missing.”
And then He created Eve.
Ladies, God created the entire universe and everything in it, including Adam, and deemed it unfinished...and then created Eve.
That is not an afterthought. That is God looking at His very purposefully, stupendously awesome creation and being like, “This needs something else.” And Eve was that something else.
Lady, you are the pièce de résistance of God’s creation! And the co-ruler and co-adventurer of the earth with man - by God’s very authority.
And that is the furthest from a “helper” or “helpmeet” one can get.